Do you think the guy was just trying to get me to order, or are his answers honest? I REALLY hope he's being honest. He addressed my three biggest concerns:

1. no usb host mode
2. no digital compass
3. ovi maps version 1.x instead of 3.x

Chat InformationThank you for choosing NokiaUSA. A sales representative will be with you shortly.

Chat InformationYou are now chatting with Paul.

Paul: Hello, welcome to Nokia. I am a Nokia Sales Representative, may I assist you finding a device today?

You: Hello, do you know what version of OVI maps comes with the n900? The site doesn't specify.

You: I know there is a big difference between 1.x and 3.x

Paul: May I ask who am I chatting with?

You: Matt

Paul: Hi Matt, it will be the latest version of ovi maps, 3.x

Paul: What did you like about the N900?

You: Ok, that's good news. You're 100% sure of that, right?

Paul: Right

You: Lots... there are drawbacks but the pluses outweigh the minuses

You: Do you have any idea how long the shipping is delayed?

Paul: It will be a great phone when it comes out

You: originally I was told it was mid-october...

Paul: The N900 will be launched in mid November

Paul: The date was pushed back last week

You: Do you know if the production unit will support usb host mode as the n8x0 tablets did?

You: and will it have a digital compass?

You: Ok (on the date change)

Paul: Yes to both

Paul: Would you like to add the phone to your shopping cart and order it today itself?

You: wait, are you aware the pre-production unit did not support usb host?

You: did they change the hardware?

You: (also the pre-production unit did not have a digital compass)

Paul: They are doing some changes to the unit

Paul: .That is why the delay

You: Great news!

You: I have actually already pre-ordered it, but those concerns had me debating cancelling the order.

Paul: Just wait for the phone to come out, if you do not like it you have 14 days to return it

You: ok, thanks Paul.

Paul: Try it first and then decide

Paul: Thank you for visiting NokiaUSA and chatting with us today. We value your feedback. Please click the “Close” button at the top right to answer a few questions about your experience with us.

Chat InformationThank you for visiting NokiaUSA and chatting with us. Please click the "Close" button on the top right of the chat window to tell us how we did today.

I asked Yoda's opinion:

"Jam-packed full of bovine feces, he is."

Hardware changes at this late stage seem unlikely to me.

probably does not know what he is talking about like any other call center/chat center employee

How can we confirm this? This paul character seems sketch. If those things are true, I may just cry tears of joy.

"Paul: Would you like to add the phone to your shopping cart and order it today itself?"

why anyone would expect anything else than a sales talk on these "official chats" is beyond me.

sounds banging so the retail one will have a digital compass

But I mean, can they just flat out lie about it?

agreed....it's impossible to change the hardware that close to the release date without skipping a lot of dev and QA steps...

hardware-wise we should expect what is already found in the pre-production units loaned during the summit (unless the release date has been pushed back into 2010).

I believe him on the ovi maps version, because it makes sense, but maybe someone else should contact a nokia employee and ask the other questions differently. like:

Do you know if either the pre-production or production n900 units support usb host mode (like the n8x0 devices)?

and

Do you know if either the pre-production or production n900 units have a digital compass?

That should help us quickly detect if they have any clue what they're talking about.